Suspension for drawers and analogous devices



May 9, 1939. J. R. JONES ET AL 2,157,611

SUSPENSION FOR DRAWERS AND ANALOGOUS DEVICES Filed Aug. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ill ATTORNEYS y 9, 1939- J. R. JONES ET AL 2,157,611

SUSPEN SION FOR DRAWERS AND ANALOGOUS DEVICES Filed Aug. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented May 9, 1939 UNE'EED STATES PATENT? QFFICE SUSPENSION FOE DRAWERS AND ANALOGOUS DEVICES Application August 5, 1938, Serial No. 223,294

12 Claims.

This invention relates to that type of progressive suspensions or guiding supports for drawers and analogous sliding elements in which the drawer is arranged to travel on an intermediate floating guide which, in turn, is caused to travel with the drawer on a stationary guide, so that when the drawer is pulled out, the floating guide will also move outwardly and project from the drawer case and thus properly guide the drawer and support it horizontally when it projects out of the case. In this specification, for the sake of brevity and clarity of description, the sliding element is referred to as a drawer but it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to use with drawers as distinguished from other analogous sliding elements.

The suspension forming the subject of this application, in common. with previous metallic progressive suspensions comprises metal rails or bars which may be fixed in the drawer case at opposite sides of the drawer and form the stationary guide, drawer rails or bars fixed to the opposite sides of the drawer, intermediate floating rails arranged at opposite sides of the drawer to travel lengthwise relatively to both the drawer and stationary rails, and rollers arranged to provide rolling or anti-friction bearings for the travel of the drawer and intermediate rails relative to each other and to the stationary rails. The drawer rails bear downwardly on and travel upon lower propeller rollers which are carried by the floating rails and roll on the stationary rails, thereby causing the travel of the floating rails with the drawer, and the drawer rails bear upwardly against upper rollers on the floating rails when the drawer is pulled out to prevent the drawer from tipping when extended.

One object of this invention is to improve progressive drawer suspensions of this type so as to enable the drawer to be pulled out to a position in which its rear end will be forward of the front face of the case and thereby make the entire length of the drawer readily accessible.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a desirable progressive drawer suspension of simple, economical construction, which will insure easy, smooth and quiet operation of the drawer; also to construct the drawer suspension so as to minimize friction and wear on its parts, particuou larly the drawer rails; also to provide a progressive suspension for drawers and the like which has the other features of advantage and improvement hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, sectional elevation showing two drawers and the case therefor provided with drawer suspensions embodying the invention, one of the drawers being shown in its inner or closed position and the other partly open.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation thereof on line 22, Fig. 3, showing the position of the parts when the drawer is pulled out with its rear end in front of the casing.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, of one drawer and its suspension, on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation of the suspension on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper, loose roller removed.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional elevation. of the suspension on line 6-6, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view thereof on line T--'!, Fig. 6.

A, Fig. 1, represents a portion of a drawer case or cabinet and B two drawers slidably mounted therein by means of drawer suspensions according to this invention. The case or cabinet and the drawers may be of any usual or suitable construction, a sheet metal case and drawers being shown in the drawings.

As illustrated, the drawer suspension comprises a stationary guide formed by parallel rails Ill disposed longitudinally at opposite sides of the drawer B and suitably mounted in the supporting case or frame; a pair of longitudinal drawer rails H, which are fixed bywelding or otherwise to the drawer at its opposite sides; and intermediate floating longitudinal rails I 2 arranged to travel between the stationary and drawer rails l0 and H at opposite sides of the drawer. The stationary rails I9 may be stationarily secured in the cabinet A, as for example, by means of laterally ofiset lugs 13 and I4 at opposite ends of the rails l0 arranged to engage in slots 13a and Ma respectively in front and rear upright supporting bars or members a, a of the cabinet. In the preferred construction shown, the rear lug H! of each rail is inserted in its slot [4a by a rearward movement of the rail, and the front lugs l3 are inserted downwardly in their slots 13a. Thus, the rear lug cannot be disengaged from its slot except by first disengaging the front lugs from their slots by raising the front end of the rail. Any suitable means, (not shown) may be employed to prevent unintentional disengagement of the front lugs from their slots. and thereby securely retain the rails in place.

Preferably, the stationary rails ID are formed by metal channel bars having vertical webs and top and bottom flanges projecting from the webs inwardly toward the drawer, the top and bottom flanges having down-bent and up-bent inner edges l5 and I6 respectively; the drawer rails H consist of metal angle bars having vertical flanges welded to the side walls of the drawer, horizontal flanges projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the drawer and formed with down-bent outer edges ii; and the floating rails I2 consist of metal channel bars each having inwardly extending top and bottom flanges l8 and I9, and the bottom flange I9 having an up-bent flange 20 at its inner edge.

Each floating rail i 2 carries three lower rollers 2i, 22 and 23, suitably journalled thereon and adapted to roll on the bottom flange of the companion stationary rail In, the rollers 2| and 23 being located respectively adjacent the outer end and inner portions of the floating rail, and the third, or propeller, roller 22 being located about midway between the ends of the rail, in such position as to be about half-way between the inner and outer ends of the drawer when the latter and the floating rails are in their innermost positions. Each floating rail i2 also has an upper roller 24 journalled thereon at its inner end and adapted to roll against the under face of the top flange of the companion stationary rail, and carries a loose upper roller 25 arranged to travel along the middle portion of the rail above the propeller roller 22.

The companion stationary, drawer and floating rails with the rollers mentioned, at each side of the drawer constitute a suspension unit, and since the units at the opopsite sides of drawer are alike except that they are reversed or right and left units, the further description of one unit will sufflce for both.

The horizontal flange of the drawer rail extends between the lower rollers 2|, 22 and 23, and the loose upper roller 25, and is adapted to bear downwardly and travel on the lower rollers, and its upper face is adapted to bear upwardly against the loose upper roller 25. This loose roller is arranged to roll along the floating rail to and from positions inwardly and outwardly beyond the propeller roller 22 in the out and in movements of the drawer. When the drawer is closed, it will be supported by the drawer rails on said lower rollers, which extend down through slots in the bottom flange of the floating rail and bear on the lower flange of the stationary rail, and when the drawer is pulled outwardly, the drawer rail, by bearing downwardly on the propeller roller 22, will cause it to roll along on the stationary rail ill, and thus cause the floating rail to move outwardly with the drawer at approximately onehalf of the speed of movement of the drawer. In this outward movement of the drawer, its overhanging weight will cause the drawer rail to bear upwardly against the loose upper roller 25 and cause it to roll forwardy or outwardly on the floating rail.

Preferably the floating rail I2 is provided with a guide 28 in which the loose roller 25 is confined but allowed to roll lengthwise of the floating rail. This guide, as shown, is formed by a metal plate shaped to provide a horizontal top flange 21, which extends along and is welded on the underside of the top flange of the rail I2, a vertical wall extending downwardly from the inner edge of the flange 21 and a bottom flange 28 extending outwardly from the lower edge of the vertical wall. The bottom flange of the guide between the opposite, upwardly inclined end portions 29 thereof is of less width than said inclined portions, thus leaving a longitudinal slot between the bottom edge of the guide and the web of the floating rail through which the loose roller 25 projects downwardly for rolling contact with the horizontal flange of the drawer rail. The narrow bottom flange of the guide extends beneath a circular hub 30 projecting from the inner end of the roller. This confines the roller in the guide but leaves the roller loose to travel lengthwise along the floating rail and also allows limited vertical play of the roller in the guide to always insure good tractional contact of the roller with both the drawer rail and top flange of the roller guide 25, and so cause the roller to roll forwardly when the drawer is pulled out and rearwardly when the drawer is shoved in. The longitudinal travel of this loose roller on the floating rail is limited by the inclined ends 29 of the bottom guide flange which serve as stops against which the roller will strike.

The lower rollers 2!, 22 and 23 are located between the web and upturned bottom flange 20 of the floating rail and are preferably journalled by ball bearings on fixed axles or rivets 3i secured at their opposite ends in the rail web and flange 211. These rollers are spaced inwardly from the rail web, as by spacing collars or portions 32 of the roller axles, to leave space for the downturned edge I! of the drawer rail between the rollers and the rail web. The drawer rails are thus prevented from lateral disengagement from the rollers, and the floating rail is confined laterally between the web and the upturned bottom flange edge 16 of the stationary rail. Thus, the floating and drawer rails are held from lateral disengage ment or displacement from the stationary rail.

Preferably, the propeller roller 22 is mounted so as to have limited up and down movement or play relative to the floating rail to insure good tractional contact of this roller with both the drawer and stationary rails in all positions of the rails and thereby positively propel the floating rail outwardly and inwardly with outward and inward movements of the drawer, as intended, irrespective of irregularities or imperfections in the rails, due to possible inaccuracies in manufacture or assembly or deformation or wear of one or another of the rails in the use of the device. In the construction shown, this vertical play of the propeller roller is permitted by providing the necessary looseness between the roller and the ball bearing about which it revolves.

In addition to the above mentioned rollers, a fourth lower roller 33 is journalled on the floating rail forwardly or outwardly beyond the propeller roller, preferably between two and three inches from roller 22 and beneath the outer end portion of the roller guide 28 and also directly beneath the loose roller 25 when the latter is in its extreme forward position. The roller 33 may be journalled, like the other lower rollers, on a ball bearing between the lower flange 20 and the web of the floating rail, and preferably is of slightly smaller diameter than the propeller roller 22, and positioned so that while the drawer rail can bear on the roller, the roller is out of contact with the bottom of the stationary rail.

In the operation of the suspension, when the drawer is pulled outwardly, the floating rails will be propelled outwardly by the propeller rollers 22, and the upward bearing of the drawer rails against the loose rollers 25 will roll these rollers outwardly, the drawer rails at all times during the outward movement of the drawer bearing downwardly on the propeller rollers 22 and upwardly against the loose rollers 25 so as to insure free, easy movement of the drawer and minimize friction and wear on the drawer rails, and also on the loose rollers which have a rolling contact with their guides throughout an extended length of surface. The outward movement of the floating rails is arrested at the outer limit of their travel by suitable stops, presently described, and when so arrested, the propeller rollers 22 will still bear on the stationary rails near the outer ends of the latter, but the relation of the parts of the suspension is such that the drawer can be pulled out to an extreme position, in which its rear end will be outwardly beyond or in front of the front of the drawer case and front ends of the stationary rails, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this outermost position of the drawer, the inner end of each drawer rail is confined between the roller 33 and the loose upper roller 25, which then is directly over the roller 33, and the drawer rails, due to the overhanging weight of the drawer, will bear downwardly on the front rollers 21 of the floating rails, and the drawer will be held horizontally or prevented from tipping by the engagement of the inner ends of the drawer rails between the rollers 25 and 33.

For stopping the outward travel of the floating rails, the rear or inner portion of the vertical inner edge E6 of each stationary rail is removed forming a rearwardly facing and preferably undercut stop shoulder adapted to be engaged by a stop 36 on the rear end of the floating rail. The stop 3%: shown consists of a bar pivoted between the web and vertical bottom flange 29 of the floating rail on a rivet 31 and having a laterally projecting part 33 at its free end which is held by gravity in position to engage the stop shoulder 35. This stop arrests the outward movement of the floating rail just before the propeller roller reaches the end of the stationary rail, so that this roller cannot pass off of the stationary rail in the normal operation of the drawer. The stops 35 can be swung up free of the shoulders 35 to allow the endwise removal of the floating rails from the stationary rails,

The stop means shown for arresting the outward travel of the drawer comprise a stop lug 4G fixed on each drawer rail and projecting out over the top of the companion floating rail in position to engage the upwardly projecting front end of a spring-actuated stop lever 4| pivoted on the front portion of the companion floating rail, when the drawer is pulled out to the limit of its forward travel. The free ends of these stop levers H can be depressed against the lifting action of their springs to permit the drawer to be removed from the suspension when desired.

In the described suspension device, the three lower rollers and the stop on the side of the drawer are so placed that after the drawer has travelled forward the normal distance made possilzle by the placing and size of the rollers, it is possible to pull the drawer forward approximately 2" further so that the rear end of the drawer will be outside of the face of the retaining case. This facilitates filing and removal of the contents. With the conventional progressive type suspension, the propeller roller or ball always remains inside of the front line of case because it must be supported by the ease member of the suspension. In order to utilize this type of suspension and at the same time obtain additional extension, we provide the smaller roller 33 placed forward of the propeller roller which will support the drawer rail after it has passed forward and out of engagement with the propeller roller and its complementary roller. The roller 23 at the rear of the propeller roller is placed to prevent tipping of the drawer. It has nothing to do with the operation or support of the load except when the drawer is fully closed into the case.

This suspension can be used in places where a cradle type suspension would not be suitable, as with the cradle having ties joining the two halves of the floating guide together. That is, ties occupy a certain amount of clearance underneath the drawer body. In the subject suspension, the only space required is at the sides of the drawer. Just sufficient clearance underneath for movement is all that is required for the drawer body. The free travelling roller is desirable because it minimizes friction and prevents unnecessary wear on the drawer rails.

We claim as our invention:

1. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices comprising a stationary guide, a movable guide, and a floating guide movable relatively to said stationary and movable guides, a propeller roller on the floating guide between the ends thereof and having rolling engagement at opposite sides of its axis with said stationary and movable guides respectively, and a second roller mov able on said floating guide to and from positions in rear of and in front of said propeller roller and against which said movable guide bears in a direction opposite to the direction of its bear- Eng against said propeller roller, said movable guide being arranged to pass forwardly out of engagement with said propeller roller while still engaging said second roller.

2. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices comprising a stationary guide, a movable guide, and a floating guide movable relatively to said stationary and movable guides, a propeller roller on the floating guide between the ends thereof arranged to bear downwardly and roll on said stationary guide and to bear upwardly and roll against said movable guide, whereby said floating guide is caused to move differentially with said movable guide when the latter is moved, and a second roller movable on said floating guide out and in to and from a position in front of said propeller roller and arranged to bear downwardly and roll against said movable guide, said movable guide being arranged to pass forwardly out of rolling engagement with said propeller roller while remaining in rolling contact with said second roller.

3. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices comprising a stationary guide, a movable guide, and a floating guide movable relatively to said stationary and movable guides, a propeller roller on the floating guide between the ends thereof arranged to bear downwardly and roll on said stationary guide and to bear upwardly and roll against said movable guide, whereby said floating guide is caused to move differentially with said movable guide when the latter is moved, a second roller movable on said floating guide in and out to and from a position in front of said propeller roller and arranged to bear downwardly and to roll against said movable guide, said movable guide being arranged to pass forwardly out of rolling engagement with said propeller roller,

and an additional roller on said floating guide in advance of said propeller roller between which additional and second rollers said movable guide is held when the movable guide passes out of engagement with the propeller roller.

4. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices comprising a stationary guide, a movable guide, and an intermediate floating guide movable relatively to said stationary and movable guides, a propeller roller on said floating guide between its ends arranged to roll on an upper face of said stationary guide and against an under face of said movable guide, an additional roller arranged on said floating guide in advance of the propeller roller to roll against said under face of the movable guide, and an upper roller movable on said floating guide arranged to roll on an upper face of said movable guide and against an under face of the floating guide, whereby in the forward movement of said movable guide said upper roller travels forwardly on the floating guide to a position over said additional roller and the movable guide is adapted to pass out of rolling engagement with said propeller roller while remaining in rolling engagement between said additional roller and said upper roller.

5. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 1 in which said second roller has limited up and down play on the floating guide.

6. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 2 in which each of said propeller and second rollers has limited up and down play in the floating guide.

7. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 2, in which stop means are arranged to stop the forward movement of the drawer with the rear end of the movable guide in front of and out of engagement with said propeller roller.

8. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 1, in which stop means are arranged to stop the forward movement of the drawer with the rear end of the movable guide in front of said propeller roller and engaged between said second and additional rollers.

9. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 1, in which said floating guide is provided with a roller guide in which s id second roller is confined to roll against the underside of the top of the roller guide lengthwise of the floating guide and to have limited up and down play.

10. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 2, in which said stationary and floating guides comprise channel bars arranged with the floating channel bar confined in the stationary channel bar, said floating channel bar has an upturned. bottom flange between which and the web of the floating channel bar said propeller roller and additional roller are journalled, and said movable guide comprises an angle bar extending into the channel of the floating channel bar and has a downturned flange confined between said rollers and the web of the floating channel bar.

11. A suspension for drawers and analogous devices according to claim 1, in which stop means for arresting forward movement of the floating guide comprise a mutilated upturned flange of said stationary guide, and a stop member on the floating guide which is arranged to engage the inner end of said flange and is movable to pass said flange end to allow removal of the floating guide from the stationary guide.

12. A suspension for drawers and analogus devices according to claim 3, in which said propeller roller is located to bear on said stationary guide close to its outer end in the outermost position of said floating guide, and said second rollis disposed outwardly beyond the propeller roller and over said additional roller in the outermost position of the drawer.

JAMES R. JONES. VICTOR A. GRONBERG. 

